Mat box mounting for motion picture cameras



Feb. 19, 1 935. G, c E 1,991,814

MAT BOX MOUNTING FOR MOTION PICTURE CAMERAS Filed Feb. 23, 1934 Patented Feb. 19, 1 v I I 7 1,991,814

UNlTED STATES PATENT OFFICE lVIAT Box MOUNTING FOR MOTION morons CAMERAS George A. Mitchell, Los Angeles, Calif., assignor to Mitchell Camera Corporation, West Hollywood, Calif., a corporation of Delaware Application February 23, 1934, Serial No. 712,544 Claims. (01. 88-1) This invention relates to improvements in shade unit is designated generally at 12, being mountings for mat box and sun shade units such shown in Fig. 1 in Operative position alined with as are used before the photographic lens of photographic lens tube 11. a motion picture camera. Unit 12 is made up of a forward sun shade 5 Motion picture cameras are commonly equipped casting 13, formed as a somewhat rearwardly con- 5 with a combined sun'shade and mat box unit verging light conduit of suitable cross section, which is mounted adjacent the front'side of the and a rear mat box device 14 positioned at the photographic lens. In order to permit changing rear of sun shade 13, and made up of front and of photographic lenses in the camera, this sun rearward sections 15 and 16, connected by a conshade and mat box unit must obviously be mounttractible and extensible bellows 17. Mat box sec- 10 ed on the camera in some manner permitting it tions and 16 may be provided with suitable to be removed from its operative position immemat and filter holders as desired. Section 15 diately adjacent the front side of the lens. Also, is mounted as shown on the rear end of sun shade since photographic lenses of different focal lengths casting 13, while section 16 has a rearwardly ex- 15 are mounted in lens tubes which project different tending tube 18 adapted to receive the forward 15 distances from the front side of the camera, the end of the lens tube 11 of'the camera when the mounting for the sun shade and mat box unit device is adjusted to position (see Fig. 4). Such must be such as will accommodate lens tubes of a mat box and sun shade device is well known all different lengths. to the art, and its details need not here be further 20 It is accordingly an object of the present indescribed. 20 vention to provide an improved mounting for' such Extending laterally from one side of sun shade a sun shade and mat box unit, which mounting casting 13, are front and rear pairs of integrally is of a nature such that-the device may be adformed upper and lower suporting arms 20 and justed easily and quickly to suit a lens of any 21, respectively, on the outer ends of which are given focal length or angle of view, ancl'which alined bearings 2 and 23 adapted to receive 25 alsopermits the device to be quickly and conveniand slide on a pair of horizontal parallel supently moved to an inoperative position out of line porting rods or tubes 25 and 26, arranged in'verwith the lens. tical alinement as shown in Fig. 3. The rearward The invention will be fully understood from the mat box section 16 is likewise provided with a 80 following detailed description of a present pre- P Of upp nd l w a 27 having bearings 30 ferred embodiment thereof, reference for this 28 adapted to slidably receive rods 25 and 26. The purpose being had to the accompanying drawupper and lower bearings 23 on arms 21, which ing, in which: are integral with the sun shade and forward mat Fig. 1 isa conventional plan view of a motion section of the device, and the upper and lower picture camera equipped with my improved mat bearings 28 on arms 2'7 integral with the rear mat 35 box and sun shade mounting; section, are provided with thumb screws 31 and Fig. 2 is a view similar to a portion of Fig. 1, 32, respectively, adapted to be set up against guide but showing the mat box and sun shade unit rods 25 and 26 to clamp the two relatively movswung out to an inoperativeposition out of line able sections of the device securely in position 0 with the lens; thereon. Fig. 3 is a front elevational view of the mount- The inner ends of rods 25 and 26 are slidably ing for the mat box and sun shade, being a view received within bores 35 in bosses 36 formed at looking toward the left in-Fig. 1; the upper and lower ends of a vertically pivoted Fig. 4 is a section taken on the broken line bracket member 37, and are set tightly therein 4. 4 of Fig 3; a d by thumb set screws 38 threaded in bosses 36'. 5

Fig. 5 is a detail section taken on line 5-5 of Bracket 37 is hinged to and carried by a plate Fig. 3. 40 which is adapted to be secured, as by screws 41, In the drawing numeral 10 designates generally directly against the front face of the camera, and a motion picture camera, having projecting from to one side of the camera lens. This plate 40 is its forward side a photographic lens tube 11, provided with upper and lower bearings .42 and 50 which lens tube may be of any usual type and 43, respectively, for a vertical hinge pin 45 may have any usual mounting provisions permitwhich passes through the upper and lower hubs ting the lens to be focussed, or removed for re- 47 and 48 of bracket member 37, said hubs complacement by a lens tube containing a lens of difing adjacent the upper and lower sides of bearferent characteristics. The mat box and sun ings 42 and 43, respectively. Hinge pin 45 is 55 bracket arms 37a and 37b, is provided at its center with a cylindrical boss 53 in which is rotatively mounted an eccentric clamp pin 54, on the inner end of which is an eccentric 55 adapted to engage behind a clamp plate 56 fastened, as by screws 57, to the front side of mounting plate 40. Mounted on the forward end of eccentric pin 54 is a head 58 carrying a clamp operating thumb piece 59. It will be obvious that rotation of pin 54 and eccentric 55 by operation of thumb piece 59 will cause eccentric 55 to engage and disengage from behind plate 56, and thus will lock the device in the position of Figs; 1. and 4, or release it to be swung to the inoperative position of Fig. 2. As a stop to limit the swing of the device inwardly as it is moved from the position of Fig. 2 towards that of Figs. 1 and 4, the boss 53 in which the eccentric pin is mounted is provided with a stop lug 60 which engages the front side of plate 56 when the position of Fig. 4 is reached. After the device has thus reached and been stopped in the position of Fig. 4 by engagement of this stop means, proper operation of the clamping device causes the eccentric 55 to engage back of plate 56, asshown in Fig. 4, and

'50 looks the device in that position.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the sun shade and forward mat section and the rear mat section units may be moved back and forth with reference to the lens, and also independently of each other (within the limits of extension of the bellows), bysliding on rods and 26, and

I may be set in any desired position with reference to the lens by tightening up screws 31 and 32. For the most part, adjustments to different lenses may be made simply by adjusting only the position of the rear mat section, without the necessity of disturbing the position of the sun shade unit, though it will frequently be found necessary to adjust both sections of the device. When it is desired to gain access to the lens, as for instance to change lenses, the eccentric release clamp is operated and the entire unit, including sun shade, mat box,.guide rods and mounting bracket, is simply swung to one side by pivoting on its vertical axis at 45, the device then taking a position for instance as shown in Fig. 2. 'It will be obvious that this mounting reduces to a minimum the inconvenience involved in adjusting the sun shade and mat box to different lenses, and in. removing'the same entirely from in front of the lens when such is desirable.

It will be understood the drawing and description are merely illustrative of and not restrictive on the broader claims appended hereto, for various changes in design, structure and arrangement may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of said claims.

I claim:

,1. In a motion picture camera having a photographic lens and a mat box unit adapted to be positioned in front of and onthe axis of said lens, a mat box unit mounting comprising a guide member including a pair of parallel horizontal guide rods disposed alongside the mat box unit, means on the mat box unit slidably engaging said rods, in such manner that the mat box unit may slide on said rods along its center line, a mounting member interconnecting and supporting the rear ends of said guide rods, a

supporting plate affixed to the camera front,

means hingedly supporting said mounting member on a vertical pivot axis disposed to one side of the camera lens, and means for releasably locking said mounting member to the supporting plate when the mounting member is in a position with the guide rods parallel to the lens axis.

2. Ina motion picture camera having a photo-- graphic lens and a mat box unit adapted. to be positioned in front of and on the axis of said lens, said mat box unit including front and rear mat box sections interconnected by a contractible and extensible bellows, a mat box unit mounting comprising a horizontal guide and supporting member disposed alongside the mat box unit, means on both mat box sections slidably ing said guide and supporting member, in such manner that the mat box sections may slide in dependently on said member along their common center line, and a supporting plate aiiixed to the camera front and hingedly supporting said guide member on a vertical pivot axis to one side of the camera lens.

3. In a motionpicture camera having a photographic lens and a mat box unit adapted to be positioned in front of and on the axis of said lens, said mat box unit'including front and rear mat box sections interconnected by a contractible and extensible bellows, a mat box unit mounting comprising a guide member including a pair of parallel horizontal guide rods disposed alongside the mat box unit, means on both the mat box sectionsslidably engaging said rods, in such manner that the mat box sections may slide independently on said rods along their common center line, a mounting member interconnecting and supportingthe rear ends of said guide rods, and a supporting plate affixed to the camera front and hingedly supporting said mounting member on a vertical pivot axis disposed to one side of the camera lens.

4; In a motion picture camera having a photographic lens and a camera attachment adapted ,to be positioned in front of and on the axis of said lens, a mounting for said camera attachment comprising a guide member including a pair of parallel horizontal guide rods arranged one above the other alongside, said attachment means on said attachment slidably engaging said rods, in-such manner that the attachment may slide on said rods in a direction parallel to the axis of the lens, a mounting member intercon- Jnecting and supporting the rear ends of said guide rods, said mounting member having a pair of upper and lower arms extending at right angles to the parallel guide rods and away from the camera attachment, a supporting plate affixed element disposed alongside said attachment,

means onsaid'attaohment slidably engaging said guide element, in such manner that the attaehone side of the camera lens. and means for rement may slide on said guide element in a direc- 'leasably locking said mounting member to the tion parallel to the axis of the lens, a mounting supporting plate when the mounting member is member supporting the rear end 0! said guide in a position with the horizontally extending 5 element, a supporting plate aflixed to the camera guide element parallel to the lens axis.

front, means hingedly supporting said mounting member on a vertical pivot axis disposed to GEORGE A. m'ICHEIL. 

